Survive & Prevent being Carjacked

Although it doesn’t get as much media attention as some other crimes, carjacking has actually become one of the top crimes in the country.

Carjacking Facts:

The Department of Justice reports that there are about 49,000 carjackings per year.

Ninety-three percent occur in cities or the suburbs.

92% of carjackings are committed when the victim is alone in their car.

90% of carjackings involved the use of a weapon.

Most happen near the victim’s home or work.

Staying Safe: Prevent becoming a Carjacking Victim.

Approaching your Vehicle:
When approaching your vehicle, awareness is your best weapon. It is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the crime.

Stay alert: Stay alert to what’s going on around you, and watch out for anyone who looks out of place.

Be Ready: Keep your keys ready when walking out to your car. Fumbling around for your keys can allow a criminal to get the upper-hand.

Look & Listen: Check the inside of your vehicle before getting in; criminals can sometimes be waiting for unsuspecting victims.

Know Who’s Lingering Nearby: Watch out for people who are loitering, asking for direction, looking for money or cigarettes, or handing out fliers. These are techniques that are often used by those looking for a quick and easy target.

Trust your instincts: Don’t ever underestimate your gut feelings. If something seems out of place, turn around and go back to where you came from, or quickly get in your vehicle and lock the doors.

While Driving:
Your best line of defense when driving is to make it as hard as possible for criminals to enter your vehicle.

Keep your doors locked, windows up, and sun roofs closed.

When coming to a stop, leave enough room between you and the vehicle directly in front you, so you can quickly maneuver around the vehicle if trouble should arise.

Driving in the center lane can make it harder for criminals to box you in, and can give you more avenues to escape.

When reaching your destination:

Park in a well-lit area, near the building’s entrance. Make sure you park around other vehicles.

Avoid parking near wooded areas, large vans and trucks, or anything that hides your visibility.

Never leave valuables in plain view for anyone to see.

Look around before you get out of your vehicle. It may also be a good idea to make a loop around the parking lot to check out the situation before parking.

If someone attempts to jack your car:

Don’t Go With: Never get in the car with the criminal, it’s better to lose the car than to lose your life.

If they have a gun… Run: Statistics show that if you run, you have somewhere around a 90% chance of being safe. If you get in the vehicle, you probably have a 100% chance of something bad happening.

Crash: If you’re forced to drive, one option could be to buckle up and consider crashing your car near a busy intersection. Chances are the idiot carjacker didn’t take the time to buckle up, and will hopefully be hurt during the crash. When this happens, get out of the car and run like hell.

Comments

Practice being the first vehicle at a stoplight when given the chance. This will allow you to vacate the area if need be. Ditto about leaving at least a car length in front of you if forced to not be 1st in line. If you are in at least a 2 lane road, be in the lane closest to oncoming traffic. This will allow you to move into the oncoming lane if need be. Taking your chances with an accident is much better than getting jacked. When all else fails, keep your hand on a Springfield XD when in questionable surroundings.

Finally! People worried about being taken by someone with a weapon should always consider evening the odds. I personally carry a Springfield XD Subcompact and am quite proficient with it. You may get my wallet and car, but you are not driving far!

I am not ageist being armed but weapon in untrained hands can be very dangers most of the people doing carjacking do not have training and will be under stress and they my not wont to hurt the person they taking the care but pulling your weapon my cause a response or reflex firing so your best weapon is your brain

ok as a EX cab driver when I had guns pulled on me yes it happend more then you think My best action was to step on the gas to the floor (Old cop cars are FAST) then let go of the stearing wheel then ask for sed wepon shoes and ther wallet befor I would slow down or take the wheel

Wow… where are you driving?
I drove a cab in Los Angeles for almost 10 years back in the 80’s/90’s and only had a gun pulled on me twice. The first time “they” took the money and the car, the second time “he” was stupid enough to draw while I was moving… going ’45 to 0 in point no seconds’ and turning without a seat belt disarms someone quickly.
Besides, if they already have the drop on you while sitting down at a stop, you’re a fool to think you’ll successfully pull your weapon out (if you even have one) before they can pull a trigger. No material item is worth your life, let them have the money and car, as Sean states above, they won’t be going far.

Pull your seat belt up tight, aim the passenger side of the car at power pole and floor it. It’s over quick, they are wrapped around a power pole in your back seat and with no fault Canadian car insurance you get a new car. No trial no body, goes to court almost everyone wins. :)

I was carjacked by gunpoint! In 2001 I was on my way to work, I stopped at a store parked on side of building. I wasn’t in there 5 min. My mistake is that I didn’t lock my door! Never would have thought that a man would get into the back of my car crouch down and I don’t see him! Once I drove off he pulled the gun around the back of the seat to my side and said drive! So I did ! He forcd me to go to an abandon house that looked like people use it to sleep, partyvand and in my case rape me! He had the gun in my mouth, to my head and said if I didn’t give him oral sex and do it right he would kill me! I went out of my body and thought of my husband and two young children. After he was done he asked me where my car keys were. I said here take them! There wer people outside rocking on their porch and not one answered my varies for help? I started to walk and a young girl could tell something wasn’t right and she stopped! Ishe was able to understand rape and took me to a police sub station.while I was talking to police a bank robbery where a man in a mask shot off seven rounds of a gun came over the police radio! They described my car as the car the robber used! I’m glad to say that because I was the only one to see his face, I was able to help Police/FBI find him buy picking him out of six mug shots!! They found him, gun, money, mask and drugs, he confessed and I didn’t have to go through a trial and he is in Fed. Prison for 33 yrs No Parol ! But I never forget and won’t hardly leave my house and if I do I won’t go anywhere by myself.